tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40531662638120608622024-03-05T09:32:46.367-05:00Fanciful FlightsChris Lord's Aviation Blog featuring his fun and fanciful digitally enhanced photographic artwork of vintage and modern aircraft of all types.Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-64581470438059291322016-03-08T12:59:00.000-05:002016-03-08T13:11:13.803-05:00Airshows<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f9LdzS2x6l8/Vt8Qe8vouAI/AAAAAAAAgx8/DMl3sel84nM/s1600/JonesBeachAirshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f9LdzS2x6l8/Vt8Qe8vouAI/AAAAAAAAgx8/DMl3sel84nM/s640/JonesBeachAirshow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Screamin' Sasquatch at Jones Beach, New York<br /><br /> Jet Waco Biplane piloted by Jeff Boerboon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">An Airshow, Air Fair or Air Tattoo is a public event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators, usually by means of aerobatics Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows". Attending airshows is a great way to get within lens reach of a great many aircraft at a time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd67QoBqD5Bn0zXeiDgpioz36n6MZmuKVfefMcmEzuU1DvxHhhr18WGpSHRwqLGG9ZrIFD3wTTsUuVZH8IHvLDHQZQfFMn6Pmq-1S7BpKUB0THx2gERidZw-2qhSNCH1J0NOpJ4D4Yql4/s1600/PittsSpecial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd67QoBqD5Bn0zXeiDgpioz36n6MZmuKVfefMcmEzuU1DvxHhhr18WGpSHRwqLGG9ZrIFD3wTTsUuVZH8IHvLDHQZQfFMn6Pmq-1S7BpKUB0THx2gERidZw-2qhSNCH1J0NOpJ4D4Yql4/s640/PittsSpecial.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pitts Special Aerobatic Biplane</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K5-68YIUj3o/Vt8QjizthSI/AAAAAAAAgzs/28MQIeBaeyc/s1600/Wheeeee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K5-68YIUj3o/Vt8QjizthSI/AAAAAAAAgzs/28MQIeBaeyc/s1600/Wheeeee.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What Goes Up Must Come Down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WyBjga2T3gc/Vt8Qfa6CqZI/AAAAAAAAgyI/UQJRE_pyLA4/s1600/MH434%2526Frankie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WyBjga2T3gc/Vt8Qfa6CqZI/AAAAAAAAgyI/UQJRE_pyLA4/s640/MH434%2526Frankie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P-51 Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" and Spitfire MH434 Flying Together </td></tr>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-2488466957185482682015-12-30T21:26:00.000-05:002016-03-08T13:19:02.490-05:00Eurofighter Typhoon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sj_To3JGPhk/Vt8QidG3e-I/AAAAAAAAgz4/SguXJmgBqXE/s1600/TyphoonPatrol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sj_To3JGPhk/Vt8QidG3e-I/AAAAAAAAgz4/SguXJmgBqXE/s1600/TyphoonPatrol.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eurofighter Typhoon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed and is manufactured by a consortium of three companies; BAE Systems, Airbus Group and Alenia Aermacchi, who conduct the majority of affairs dealing with the project through a joint holding company, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, which was formed in 1986. The project is managed by the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, which also acts as the prime customer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7GkZs4umWWqflVwYd-B4t05bVp77sgcKCPEB9DYW41rMScScy8Y7BuhRMC5nbS0egGejbkQiguXtTnsNBzQT5bZyYjJr4sTFddsgpqXqoQGmPnQw6uTUsa4ChdamskPogRGf9twl6nA/s1600/TyphoonInTheClouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7GkZs4umWWqflVwYd-B4t05bVp77sgcKCPEB9DYW41rMScScy8Y7BuhRMC5nbS0egGejbkQiguXtTnsNBzQT5bZyYjJr4sTFddsgpqXqoQGmPnQw6uTUsa4ChdamskPogRGf9twl6nA/s1600/TyphoonInTheClouds.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eurofighter Typhoon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Development of the aircraft effectively began in 1983 with the Future European Fighter Aircraft programme, a multinational collaborative effort between the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Due to disagreements over design authority and operational requirements, France left the consortium to independently develop the Dassault Rafale instead. A technology demonstration aircraft, the British Aerospace EAP, first took flight on 6 August 1986; the first prototype of the finalised Eurofighter made its first flight on 27 March 1994. The name of the aircraft, Typhoon, was formally adopted in September 1998; the first production contracts were signed that same year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oiPPpZe6Tk/Uyjwj2RA0eI/AAAAAAAAR10/N2H_jwUpaII/s1600/Typhoon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oiPPpZe6Tk/Uyjwj2RA0eI/AAAAAAAAR10/N2H_jwUpaII/s1600/Typhoon2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurofighter Typhoon</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Political issues in the partner nations significantly protracted the Typhoon's development; the sudden end of the Cold War reduced European demand for fighter aircraft, and there was debate over the cost and work share of the Eurofighter. The Typhoon was introduced into operational service in 2003. Currently, the type has entered service with the Austrian Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the German Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the Spanish Air Force, and the Royal Saudi Air Force. The Royal Air Force of Oman has also been confirmed as an export customer, bringing the procurement total to 571 aircraft as of 2013.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-egsjkjIVU7k/Vt8Qeey5BHI/AAAAAAAAgz8/bHcJuZzUVZM/s1600/HappyTogether.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-egsjkjIVU7k/Vt8Qeey5BHI/AAAAAAAAgz8/bHcJuZzUVZM/s1600/HappyTogether.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eurofighter Typhoon Displaying At An Airshow With A Spitfire</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly agile aircraft, designed to be an effective dogfighter when in combat with other aircraft; later production aircraft have been increasingly more well-equipped to undertake air-to-surface strike missions and to be compatible with an increasing number of different armaments and equipment. The Typhoon saw its combat debut </span>during<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the 2011 military intervention in Libya with the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force, performing reconnaissance and ground strike missions. The type has also taken primary responsibility for air defence duties for the majority of customer nations.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEUEosCOeAc/Uyjwj9WJWiI/AAAAAAAAR1w/ukBz1VBR5Ko/s1600/Typhoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEUEosCOeAc/Uyjwj9WJWiI/AAAAAAAAR1w/ukBz1VBR5Ko/s1600/Typhoon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurofighter Typhoon</td></tr>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-70958318317587770162015-11-28T15:53:00.000-05:002016-03-08T13:24:53.994-05:00Falcons Parachute Team<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_0s1dBxh4I/Vt8YKmi1-EI/AAAAAAAAg0E/zdn-7iVgqRQ/s1600/SmokeOn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_0s1dBxh4I/Vt8YKmi1-EI/AAAAAAAAg0E/zdn-7iVgqRQ/s1600/SmokeOn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">RAF Falcons Parachute Team</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Display parachuting is one of the most difficult types of parachuting and requires hard work, a high level of skill and most importantly, trust in other Team Members and their equipment. This is why the RAF Falcons are Britain's premier Parachute Display Team.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The team will exit the aircraft individually between 5,000 - 9,000 ft. Once in free fall, the team will create an echelon formation, falling at speeds of up to 120 mph before deploying their parachutes on a signal from the team coach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once the canopies have opened safely, each team member will position himself above the person below to form the famous Falcons canopy stack.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeS42v769s0/VR2TusaohvI/AAAAAAAAaMk/6pN8e-V0tc0/s1600/RAFParachuteTeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeS42v769s0/VR2TusaohvI/AAAAAAAAaMk/6pN8e-V0tc0/s1600/RAFParachuteTeam.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">RAF Falcons Parachute Team</span><br />
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-22777543456476762982015-06-19T20:29:00.000-04:002015-06-19T20:30:03.441-04:00The GEICO Skytypers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">The World Famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team is a flight squadron of six vintage WWII aircraft performing precision flight maneuvers at select airshows across the US. The diverse flying expertise of the team members aligns perfectly with the unique components of their overall performance.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kpuLo1aHuY/VYSvABjIZfI/AAAAAAAAbY0/yAEsysCbAOc/s1600/TexansAtPlay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kpuLo1aHuY/VYSvABjIZfI/AAAAAAAAbY0/yAEsysCbAOc/s1600/TexansAtPlay.jpg" /></a>
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In 1940-1941, North American Aviation designed the SNJ as a transition trainer between basic trainers and first-line tactical aircraft. These planes served as the classroom for most of the Allied pilots flying in WWII. This aircraft has been recognized by many names; the T-6 Texan (Army Aircorp) and the Harvard (RAF), but was most affectionately known as the “pilot maker” by crew members.<br />
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While made famous as a trainer, the SNJ won honors in WWII and in the early portion of the Korean War. A total of 15,495 planes were manufactured training thousands of pilots across 34 different countries.<br />
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The GEICO Skytypers fly the SNJ-2 version of the aircraft. This model has an enlarged 180 gallon fuel tank allowing the aircraft to operate for more than four hours. Other unique design elements of this particular aircraft include: a decrease of eight inches in the overall length, a larger round rudder, and a fixed tail wheel. Each plane weighs 5500 pounds and utilizes a 600hp Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1, 9 cylinder radial engine.<br />
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-84015216694783959342015-06-19T20:13:00.000-04:002015-06-19T21:09:32.757-04:00The Breitling Jet Team<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy907YBIbGo/VYSvBAYEMVI/AAAAAAAAbY4/acWnLomrBUw/s1600/BreitlingJetTeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy907YBIbGo/VYSvBAYEMVI/AAAAAAAAbY4/acWnLomrBUw/s1600/BreitlingJetTeam.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Breitling Jet Team</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Breitling Jet Team is made up of seven L-39C Albatros aircraft, Czech-made twin-seater military training jets that can also be used for passenger flights. These magnificent planes represent an excellent compromise between performance, aesthetics, reliability and operating costs. They were widely used in all former Soviet bloc countries. The Breitling Jet Team planes were acquired in exceptional technical condition. To accentuate their powerful, taut and dynamic appearance, Breitling has equipped them with a black, anthracite gray and metal gray livery perfectly reflecting their spectacular feats – while also improving the visibility of the breathtaking feats they perform. A bold, high-impact design in which each pilot’s number appears in an extremely original way, tightly framed and cropped to follow the shape of the wings and ailerons. Another spectacular detail lies in the dark shade of their fuselage, which creates a vivid contrast with the metal gray of the underside of the wings and sometimes makes the jets look almost like missiles when viewed from the ground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-47975602236604285072015-04-02T15:18:00.001-04:002015-06-19T20:42:07.763-04:00Vought F4U Corsair<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh5If4XCJw4/VR2Tt-xlPII/AAAAAAAAaLY/Tp9jh-bFM8Q/s1600/GoodyearFG-1DCorsair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh5If4XCJw4/VR2Tt-xlPII/AAAAAAAAaLY/Tp9jh-bFM8Q/s1600/GoodyearFG-1DCorsair.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Chance Vought F4U Corsair</span> </span></td></tr>
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The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was an American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and Brewster-built aircraft F3A. From the first prototype delivery to the U.S. Navy in 1940, to final delivery in 1953 to the French, 12,571 F4U Corsairs were manufactured by Vought,in 16 separate models, in the longest production run of any piston-engined fighter in U.S. history (1942–53) The Corsair was designed as a carrier-based aircraft. However its difficult carrier landing performance rendered the Corsair unsuitable for Navy use until the carrier landing issues were overcome when used by the British Fleet Air Arm. </div>
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The Corsair thus came to and retained prominence in its area of greatest deployment: land based use by the U.S. Marines. The role of the dominant U.S. carrier based fighter in the second part of the war was thus filled by the Grumman F6F Hellcat, powered by the same Double Wasp engine first flown on the Corsair's first prototype in 1940. The Corsair served to a lesser degree in the U.S. Navy. As well as the U.S. and British use the Corsair was also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the French Navy Aéronavale and other, smaller, air forces until the 1960s. Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II, and the U.S. Navy counted an 11:1 kill ratio with the F4U Corsair. </div>
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After the carrier landing issues had been tackled it quickly became the most capable carrier-based fighter-bomber of World War II. The Corsair served almost exclusively as a fighter-bomber throughout the Korean War and during the French colonial wars in Indochina and Algeria.</div>
Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-47111195035337630242015-01-15T13:22:00.000-05:002015-06-19T20:44:07.336-04:00The Avro Lancaster<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDYifNhdHOFzL46KvxDNKZNwtFdCbGAZ0KSWlHFeIyNpXM2-a2KoyiSmgRu8b5t-3XaCIHoYz9xCfNBBozqQWsNuGsyStDUWRfN1-i8GzFZ1DJNPm6JiYdkbl1LMYAp9zVfi2wmBbirQ/s1600/Thumper&Vera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDYifNhdHOFzL46KvxDNKZNwtFdCbGAZ0KSWlHFeIyNpXM2-a2KoyiSmgRu8b5t-3XaCIHoYz9xCfNBBozqQWsNuGsyStDUWRfN1-i8GzFZ1DJNPm6JiYdkbl1LMYAp9zVfi2wmBbirQ/s1600/Thumper&Vera.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Thumper and Vera, The Last Canadian and English Lancasters Flying</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Under the cover of darkness, on May 17,1943, nineteen Lancaster heavy bombers of Royal Air Force Bomber Command, flew over the coast of occupied Europe on a most secret mission. The crews were specially trained and the aircraft specially prepared to carry barrel shaped bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. As the targets loomed closer, the designated aircraft initiated their attack runs at very low altitude. The first Lancaster released its bomb, followed by the other aircraft in its group, and as each pulled away the crew could see the bomb bouncing along the surface of the lake towards its concrete target, striking it and finally sinking and exploding. Back at base the news broke—Lancasters of 617 Squadron had breached the Moehne, Eder and Sorpe dams in northwest Germany, and had caused major flooding of the vital Ruhr Valley industrial area. The floods had drowned some 1,200 German workers, but the cost was high with the loss of eight RAF Lancaster bombers and their crews. This daring venture, and the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord in 1944, are the best known of all the exploits of the Lancaster, yet it was as the ceaseless night-time destroyer of German industrial centers and cities that it did most to bring the war to a close. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-adrdsDyjAPg/T_m9nBaRYfI/AAAAAAAAC-I/q77RVw0PL6w/s1600/NightFlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-adrdsDyjAPg/T_m9nBaRYfI/AAAAAAAAC-I/q77RVw0PL6w/s1600/NightFlight.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Night Flight - </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Photo Chris Lord</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The Lancaster bomber holds a special place of affection mingled with a great deal of pride in the hearts of British and Commonwealth citizens—feelings which perhaps find their parallel in the hearts of Americans toward the B-17 Flying Fortress. Just as the Spitfire epitomized the Commonwealth's supreme spirit of defiance in the face of seemingly irresistible defeat, so the evening sight and sound of streams of Lancasters "heading out" toward the heartland of the German Reich was the ultimate translation of a war weary people's will to see the Nazi military and industrial machine—the source of colossal suffering for so much of the world—battered into oblivion. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The Lancaster flew for the first time on January 9,1941 as a four-engined development of the Avro Manchester. The RAF began to equip with Mk Is in early 1942, and used them first on March 10th against targets in Essen. Altogether, more than 7,300 Lancasters were produced in Britain as Mks I to VII and Canada as Mk Xs, and they dropped more than 608,000 tons of bombs on 156,000 wartime missions. Some Lancasters were still flying with the RAF in the early 1950s as maritime-reconnaissance, photo-reconnaissance and rescue aircraft.</span>
Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-42435216287840833812014-11-18T12:15:00.000-05:002014-11-18T12:31:24.087-05:00De Havilland<div style="text-align: justify;">
De Havilland Aircraft Company Limited was a British aviation manufacturer established in late 1920 by Geoffrey de Havilland at Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware on the outskirts of London. Operations were later moved to Hatfield in Hertfordshire. De Havilland Aircraft Company was responsible for the Moth biplane (see elsewhere on this blog for the Tiger Moth) which revolutionized general aviation in the 1920s, the 1930s Fox Moth which was the first commercial transport aircraft able to operate without government subsidy, and the Comet which was the first passenger jet to enter service, along with other innovative and important aircraft. In 1960 de Havilland became a member of the Hawker Siddeley group but lost its separate identity in 1963. Today it is part of BAE Systems plc, the British aerospace and defence business. In September 2003, this former British aerospace site became the de Havilland campus of University of Hertfordshire.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">de Havilland Dragon Rapide</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In late 1933, the Dragon Rapide was designed at the de Havilland company as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon. It was in effect a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the four-engined DH.86 Express. It shared many common features with the DH.86 Express, including its tapered wings, streamlined fairings and the Gipsy Six engine, but it demonstrated none of the operational vices of the DH.86 Express, and went on to become perhaps the most successful British-built short-haul commercial passenger aircraft of the 1930s. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the start of World War II, many Dragon Rapides were impressed by the British armed forces and served under the name de Havilland Dominie. They were used for passenger and communications duties. Over 500 further examples were built specifically for military purposes, powered by improved Gipsy Queen engines, to bring total production to 731. The Dominies were mainly used by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy for radio and navigation training. Postwar they were used as communications aircraft by Royal Naval air station flights. </span><br />
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A de Havilland Dragon Rapide, the Sky Gypsy, appears in "Out of Time", an episode of the BBC science fiction television series Torchwood, in which one is accidentally flown through a "transcendental portal" and travels from 1953 over fifty years into its passengers' future. Aircraft registered as G-ACZE appears in the 1990 ITV production Agatha Christie's Poirot, "Peril at End House". Dragon Rapides appear in several films including The Maggie, The Captain's Paradise, Fathom, and the 1995 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III. A Dragon Rapide was also seen in the 2004 movie, A Good Woman, starring Helen Hunt. A 1986 Spanish film, Dragon rapide,covers its historical use by Generalissimo Francisco Franco.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMZU7J8xSxM/VGt5jWj6R2I/AAAAAAAAXfM/lQjwIDoa0Yk/s1600/BusinessTravel1933-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMZU7J8xSxM/VGt5jWj6R2I/AAAAAAAAXfM/lQjwIDoa0Yk/s1600/BusinessTravel1933-Edit.jpg" /></a><br />
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de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly</div>
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The de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly was a 1930s British twin-engined luxury touring biplane built by the De Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield Aerodrome.The Dragonfly shared a clear family resemblance with the Dragon Rapide, but was smaller and had higher aspect ratio, slightly sweptback wings. The lower wing had a shorter span than the upper, unlike the DH.89, and the top of the engine nacelles protruded much less above its surface because the fuel tank had been moved to the lower centre section. Structurally, too they were different: the Dragonfly had a new preformed plywood monocoque shell and strengthened fuselage. It was designed as a luxury touring aircraft for four passengers and a pilot, with provision for dual controls. The first aircraft, G-ADNA, first flew on 12 August 1935. The Dragonfly achieved maximum performance on low power, by using the new construction methods developed for the de Havilland Comet racer, and therefore was expensive to buy (£2,650). In modern terms, it was an executive transport, aimed at wealthy private individuals, often via the companies they owned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">DH 90A G-AEDU (c/n 7526) (This image) has been registered in the United Kingdom since 1992, owned by the Norman Aeroplane Trust. Originally delivered to Angola in 1937, it flew as CR-AAB and later as ZS-CTR in South Africa. When it was returned to England in 1979, it used a British registration (G-AEDU) that had been allocated to another Dragonfly but not used. It was exported to the United States in 1983 as N190DH but it was returned to England in 1992 in a damaged state and rebuilt to flying condition as G-AEDU.</span></div>
Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-52448663265027961972014-11-17T18:34:00.003-05:002014-11-17T18:52:02.990-05:00Messerschmitt BF 109 Part Two - Dawn Raider<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JF9BGadT2VY/VGqED1Ue7JI/AAAAAAAAXds/Y4aaUwUIdgc/s1600/DawnRaider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JF9BGadT2VY/VGqED1Ue7JI/AAAAAAAAXds/Y4aaUwUIdgc/s1600/DawnRaider.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b>Messerschmitt BF 109 Dawn Raider</b></span></td></tr>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Maschine ist klar zum Start Herr Hauptmann. Vorgesehene Abflugszeit Punkt 6!”</strong> </div>
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Hispano Aviación HA-1112-M1L "Buchon" painted to emulate a German "Luftwaffe" Messerschmitt BF 109 Photographed at Shoreham Aerodrome in West Sussex, UK 2013
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-45105361530113614392014-10-31T12:23:00.000-04:002014-11-17T19:24:28.746-05:00Messerschmitt BF 109<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhW21A_50bI/VGp-LNt3SqI/AAAAAAAAXdQ/JA8oB43AJOg/s1600/109sInTheClouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhW21A_50bI/VGp-LNt3SqI/AAAAAAAAXdQ/JA8oB43AJOg/s1600/109sInTheClouds.jpg" /></a><br />
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Two Messerschmitt BF 109s prowl the cloud layers</div>
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<i>Actually, although painted to emulate German "Luftwaffe" fighters the aircraft in these air show images are Hispano Aviación HA-1112-M1L "Buchon" aircraft. A Spanish built version of the BF109 from 1954 - the final variant fitted with a RR Merlin engine and armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. Used operationally. 172 built.</i><br />
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<b>The Messerschmitt BF 109</b>, often called ME 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine.</div>
Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. It was supplied to and operated by several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war. The BF 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced from 1936 up to April 1945.<br />
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The BF 109 was flown by the three top-scoring German fighter aces of World War II, who claimed 928 victories among them while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52, mainly on the Eastern Front, as well as by Hans-Joachim Marseille, the highest scoring German ace in the North African Campaign. It was also flown by several other successful aces from Germany's allies, notably Finland, including the highest scoring non-German ace Ilmari Juutilainen, and pilots from Romania, Croatia and Hungary. Through constant development, the BF 109 remained competitive with the latest Allied fighter aircraft until the end of the war.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jcwW_LFGtU/Tp9RsKJDeyI/AAAAAAAABQ0/9uy6aXpw0J4/s1600/Messerschmitt109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jcwW_LFGtU/Tp9RsKJDeyI/AAAAAAAABQ0/9uy6aXpw0J4/s1600/Messerschmitt109.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ME 109 at Takeoff</td></tr>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-25616586764077430402014-10-14T18:22:00.000-04:002015-04-02T15:34:44.057-04:00Death Came From The Skies<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJLuoQ9uCXk/UlxsR2LWaZI/AAAAAAAALyA/b_8wCNboEk4/s1600/Apache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJLuoQ9uCXk/UlxsR2LWaZI/AAAAAAAALyA/b_8wCNboEk4/s1600/Apache.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boeing AH-64 Apache<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. Originally, the Apache started life as the Model 77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra, and was first flown on 30 September 1975. The AH-64 was introduced to U.S. Army service in April 1986.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The AH-64 Apache features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30-millimeter (1.2 in) M230 Chain Gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage. It has four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has a large amount of systems redundancy to improve combat survivability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The U.S. Army selected the YAH-64, by Hughes Helicopters, over the Bell YAH-63 in 1976, and later approved full production in 1982. McDonnell Douglas continued production and development after purchasing Hughes Helicopters from Summa Corporation in 1984. The first production AH-64D Apache Longbow, an upgraded version of the original Apache, was delivered to the Army in March 1997. Production has been continued by Boeing Defense, Space & Security; over 1,000 AH-64s have been produced to date.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWgoHahvhqsN4ZqL1Vpx5xmkL_80m-lfSaR3gcguhSfL7XmT25UkF9MMBtCqTp2aNxuQySRWeygZREJbVk3gFdRbQdN0o-r2CNqgXckS7Q_Vsurz3D-Oh2lvK1z3c54kGOFDVsSA3dFU/s1600/JungleRaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWgoHahvhqsN4ZqL1Vpx5xmkL_80m-lfSaR3gcguhSfL7XmT25UkF9MMBtCqTp2aNxuQySRWeygZREJbVk3gFdRbQdN0o-r2CNqgXckS7Q_Vsurz3D-Oh2lvK1z3c54kGOFDVsSA3dFU/s1600/JungleRaid.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle Raid</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The U.S. Army is the primary operator of the AH-64; it has also become the primary attack helicopter of multiple nations, including Greece, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands and Singapore; as well as being produced under license in the United Kingdom as the AgustaWestland Apache. U.S. AH-64s have served in conflicts in Panama, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Israel used the Apache in its military conflicts in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip; both British and U.S. Apaches have seen deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Apache Apocalypse</span></td></tr>
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-44231180459429906372014-01-26T18:52:00.001-05:002015-04-02T15:27:16.937-04:00Boeing CH-47 Chinook<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG974h1cvilVgrzTv5yvitGkmINIkYKig_OIeBT9pE5qiiJAIdZGi-pVj6DYJmgX7lBTSviYGINM5jaw0dfMMVXLtTvDljSuRxZtjyanSUL6jEn4k6zUcFG5SCgame4XygOHnrwyMPi-I/s1600/BoeingCH-47Chinook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG974h1cvilVgrzTv5yvitGkmINIkYKig_OIeBT9pE5qiiJAIdZGi-pVj6DYJmgX7lBTSviYGINM5jaw0dfMMVXLtTvDljSuRxZtjyanSUL6jEn4k6zUcFG5SCgame4XygOHnrwyMPi-I/s1600/BoeingCH-47Chinook.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boeing CH-47 Chinook<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks. With a top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h) the helicopter is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s. The CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name is from the Native American Chinook people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The Chinook was designed and initially produced by Boeing Vertol in the early 1960s; it is now produced by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. It is one of the few aircraft of that era – along with the fixed-wing Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft – that remain in production and front-line service, with over 1,179 built to date. The helicopter has been sold to 16 nations with the U.S. Army and the Royal Air Force its largest users. The U.S. Army plans to operate the CH-47 Chinook until 2038. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">I photographed these at Dunsfold in the UK and created the skies in post production.</span><br />
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-18991591427712301742013-12-06T15:29:00.000-05:002014-11-17T19:01:21.970-05:00de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXK4I0UQp4T2wFA4aSL0rxOOtwmShrCSY23sLjBOFiUdwxilCfz3e8oqt3g9meSf75Ahx5evUH0km6Aw410kffUm0LAcfRqdTh-vM1gBncKmbsebEQfZFtgMwAQmm4570bJpE9AITOLo/s1600/TigerCubBallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXK4I0UQp4T2wFA4aSL0rxOOtwmShrCSY23sLjBOFiUdwxilCfz3e8oqt3g9meSf75Ahx5evUH0km6Aw410kffUm0LAcfRqdTh-vM1gBncKmbsebEQfZFtgMwAQmm4570bJpE9AITOLo/s1600/TigerCubBallet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger Moth Ballet</td></tr>
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The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft entered civil operation. Many other nations used the Tiger Moth in both military and civil applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft in many countries. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for those pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft, although most Tiger Moths have a skid. Many are now employed by various companies offering trial lesson experiences. Those in private hands generally fly far fewer hours and tend to be kept in concours condition. The de Havilland Moth club founded 1975 is now a highly organized owners' association offering technical support and focus for Moth enthusiasts.<br />
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In postwar use, large numbers of surplus Tiger Moths were made available for sale to flying clubs and individuals. They proved to be inexpensive to operate and found enthusiastic reception in the civil market, taking on new roles including aerial advertising, aerial ambulance, aerobatic performer, crop duster and glider tug.<br />
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The Tiger Moth might be confused at first glance with the Belgian-designed Stampe SV.4 aerobatic aircraft which had a very similar design layout, with similar main landing gear, slight wing sweepback for both airframes, and similar engine/cowling design. Several Tiger Moths were converted during the 1950s to Coupe standard with a sliding canopy over both crew positions, not unlike the Canadian-built Fleet Finch biplane trainers which served beside the Tiger Moth in RCAF service as trainers in Canada during the war years. Many ex-RAF examples imported to the Netherlands post war were required by the Dutch civil aviation authorities to be fitted with additional fin area, incorporating an extended forward fillet to the fin.<br />
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After the development of aerial topdressing in New Zealand, large numbers of ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Tiger Moths built in that country and in the United Kingdom were converted into agricultural aircraft. The front seat was replaced with a hopper to hold superphosphate for aerial topdressing. From the mid-1950s, these topdressers were replaced by more modern types such as the PAC Fletcher, and a large number of New Zealand Tiger Moths in good flying condition were then passed to pilot owner enthusiasts. It has been claimed that more people have flown themselves in Tiger Moths than in any other plane.<br />
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Royal Navy Tiger Moths utilised as target tugs and "air experience" machines became the last military examples when that service purchased a batch of refurbished ex civil examples in 1956. One became the last biplane to land on an aircraft carrier (HMS Eagle) in the English Channel during the Summer of 1967. On take-off the wind over the deck meant she took off but was slower than the carrier, which turned hard to starboard to avoid a possible collision.[citation needed] These planes remained in service until the early 1970s.<br />
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Tiger Moths were often modified to stand in for rarer aircraft in films. Notably, Tiger Moth biplanes were used in the crash scenes in The Great Waldo Pepper, standing in for the Curtiss JN-1. Due to the popularity of the design and the rising cost of flyable examples, a number of replicas (scale and full size) have been designed for the homebuilder, including the Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth and the RagWing RW22 Tiger Moth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HtKzxLriaHw/UqIwtSD5GzI/AAAAAAAAOAo/qhV-DIMY4lI/s1600/TigerCubFormation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HtKzxLriaHw/UqIwtSD5GzI/AAAAAAAAOAo/qhV-DIMY4lI/s1600/TigerCubFormation.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger Moth Formation</td></tr>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-88448603973171706162013-10-15T18:16:00.000-04:002013-10-15T18:22:04.794-04:00The Kittyhawk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvX20_ZzM_E/Ul25nDylVaI/AAAAAAAALzU/-iqAv3K0dv0/s1600/KittyHawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvX20_ZzM_E/Ul25nDylVaI/AAAAAAAALzU/-iqAv3K0dv0/s1600/KittyHawk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Teichman’s Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk</td></tr>
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This particular aircraft was built in 1943 for the Royal Canadian Air Force with the serial No. 840 and flying with various squadrons, though she only amassed 732 flying hours in military service. Retired from flying in 1950, she moved to Oregon State University as an instruction airframe before being put into storage. In the late 1970’s she was found by Tommy Camp who restored her to flying condition with the first flight in 1982.<br />
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Over the last winter, Peter <span style="text-align: center;">Teichman’s</span> dedicated team of engineers at Hanger 11 stripped the P-40 of paint down to the bare metal. By April, the stripping was complete and the aircraft was returned to airworthiness for a short hop to Biggin Hill for the first stages of the repaint. She emerged again in early May with the initial coat of Olive Drab and Grey plus just a few hints of what was to come!<br />
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The date of the unveiling was announced on the Hangar 11 Facebook page, and together with some welcome early summer warmth and blue skies, attracted a sizeable crowd to an informal event held around ‘Hangar 11’ at North Weald Airfield. It was a superb day, not least to have such great access to Hangar 11, but also the very friendly welcome everybody had!<br />
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Mid-day finally saw the big moment as the aircraft’s canvas covers were removed from the nose to reveal the new and quite stunning artwork of P-40N-1 Warhawk 44-2104590 ‘Lulu Belle’ of the 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group of the 10th Air Force – The Burma Banshees. The aircraft represents one of two aircraft in the Squadron called ‘Lulu Belle’ and both flown by Lt. Philip Adair at Nagaghuli in India. Adair became an ‘ace’ making a name for himself for attacking a large formation of Japanese fighters and bombers on 19th December 1943 downing an ‘Oscar’, damaging two others and also one of the ‘Sally’ bombers. For that action he earned the Silver Star.<br />
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The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. The Warhawk was used by most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. It was the third most-produced American fighter, after the P-51 and P-47; by November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built, all at Curtiss-Wright Corporation's main production facilities at Buffalo, New York.</div>
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Warhawk was the name the United States Army Air Corps adopted for all models, making it the official name in the United States for all P-40s. The British Commonwealth and Soviet air forces used the name Tomahawk for models equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C, and the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants.</div>
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P-40s first saw combat with the British Commonwealth squadrons of the Desert Air Force in the Middle East and North African campaigns, during June 1941. No. 112 Squadron Royal Air Force, was among the first to operate Tomahawks in North Africa and the unit was the first Allied military aviation unit to feature the "shark mouth" logo, copying similar markings on some Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engine fighters.</div>
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The P-40's lack of a two-stage supercharger made it inferior to Luftwaffe fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 or the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in high-altitude combat and it was rarely used in operations in Northwest Europe. Between 1941 and 1944, the P-40 played a critical role with Allied air forces in three major theaters: North Africa, the Southwest Pacific and China. It also had a significant role in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Alaska and Italy. The P-40's performance at high altitudes was not as important in those theaters, where it served as an air superiority fighter, bomber escort and fighter bomber. Although it gained a post-war reputation as a mediocre design, suitable only for close air support, recent research including scrutiny of the records of individual Allied squadrons, indicates that the P-40 performed surprisingly well as an air superiority fighter, at times suffering severe losses but also taking a very heavy toll of enemy aircraft, especially when flown against the lightweight and maneuverable Japanese fighters like the Oscar and Zero in the manner recommended in 1941 by General Claire Chennault, the AVG's commander in southern China. The P-40 offered the additional advantage of low cost, which kept it in production as a ground-attack aircraft long after it was obsolete as a fighter. In 2008, 29 P-40s were airworthy.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-toKLv4adA8U/Ul25nbqh1JI/AAAAAAAALzY/Db2CF77TF6U/s1600/APrayerBeforeTakeoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-toKLv4adA8U/Ul25nbqh1JI/AAAAAAAALzY/Db2CF77TF6U/s1600/APrayerBeforeTakeoff.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Prayer Before Takeoff</td></tr>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.202562 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-30892249803544296962013-10-11T20:07:00.000-04:002013-11-24T16:18:45.877-05:00Dassault Flamant<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Dassault Flamant</b></td></tr>
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The Dassault Flamant is a French light twin-engined transport airplane built shortly after World War II by Dassault Aviation for the French Air Force.<br />
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Design work on a twin-engined light transport started in 1946 with the MD 303, a development of an earlier project for an eight-seat communications aircraft the Marcel Bloch MB-30. The prototype MD 303 first flew on 26 February 1947 powered by two Béarn 6D engines, designed to meet a French Air Force requirement for a colonial communications aircraft. A re-engined version was ordered into production at the new Dassault factory at Bordeaux-Mérignac. The production aircraft was a low-wing monoplane with twin tail surfaces and a tri-cycle undercarriage and powered by two Renault 12S piston engines.<br />
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Three main versions of the aircraft now named Flamant (means Flamingo in French) were produced. The MD 315 10-seat colonial communication aircraft (first flown on 6 July 1947), the MD 312 six-seat transport aircraft (first flew on 27 April 1950), and the MD 311 navigation trainer (first flew on 23 March 1948. The MD 311 had a distinctive glazed nose for its role as both a bombing and navigation trainer.<br />
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The first Flamant was delivered to the French Air Force in 1949 and deliveries of all versions was completed by 1953<br />
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The aircraft was used for pilot training, navigation training, light transport, maritime surveillance and light ground attack. During the Algerian War of Independence the plane was used for light attack with the Nord SS.11 and AS.11 antitank missiles or with machine guns, bombs, and rockets. The Flamant MD 311 (which were based in Algeria to train pilots and navigators at first) was the first aircraft in history to fire one of the world's first wire guided antitank missile in anger, using French Army SS.11 antitank missiles, in a combat experiment to get at fortified caves located in deep mountain gorges, 1956 from an aircraft based with the special unit of the French Air Force in Algeria, GOM.86. The SS.11 attacks proved extremely successful and the French Army which had provided the missiles, began an experiment which resulted in the worlds first attack helicopters firing antitank missiles. The Flamant stayed in service until 1981. In addition to the French air force, the Flamant served in Cambodia, Madagascar, Tunisia, and Vietnam.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYteVewf7sA/UliQhPUiERI/AAAAAAAALvM/bIH5nIzQ5ys/s1600/DassaultFlamantII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYteVewf7sA/UliQhPUiERI/AAAAAAAALvM/bIH5nIzQ5ys/s1600/DassaultFlamantII.jpg" /></a></div>
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Special notes from the flying team via a message on Facebook<br />
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Cedric Boone Realy happy that you have enjoyed our display this year at Eastbourne!<br />
I've done an "inside the cockpit" video of our arrival and display training. you'll find it here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnvO9LRptaY<br />
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<b><a aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_231" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=751359613" href="https://www.facebook.com/cedric.boone" id="js_233" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Cedric Boone</a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">hello,<br />
first of all, congratulations for the pictures of the
Flamants. the babies are looking younger than in real life <span class="emoticon emoticon_wink" style="background-image: url(https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yQ/r/zazNn_L1jRw.png); background-position: -179px -697px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;" title=";)"></span><br />
I've read your blog, and I'd like to share some
information with you :<br />
- the MD315 was more a kind of gunship, with a huge gun on
the right side of the cockpit. it had the MD311 cockpit
configuration (single seated).<br />
-At first the Flamants were fitted with Renault 12S. later
they evolved to Renault 12T. this one can supply a maximum
power of 620 HP because it has a twin stage intake
compressor (single stage for the 12S). I think all the
flamants in flight condition are using 12T.<br />
- our engines are inverted V 12. there is the same amount
of oil inside and outside the engine :o) that's why we
spend at least 15 minutes after each flight to clean the
engines and engine mounts.<br />
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thanks again for your blog article !<br />
<br />
Cedric, 4A, Flamant team.</span></div>
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<b><br /></b><b>General characteristics</b><br />
Crew: 2<br />
Capacity: 10 passengers<br />
Length: 12.50 m (41 ft 0 in)<br />
Wingspan: 20.70 m (67 ft 10 in)<br />
Height: 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)<br />
Wing area: 47.2 m² (508 ft²)<br />
Empty weight: 4,250 kg (9,350 lb)<br />
Max. takeoff weight: 5,800 kg (12,760 lb)<br />
Powerplant: 2 × Renault 12S 02-201 inline piston, 433 kW (580 hp) each<br />
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<b>Performance</b><br />
Maximum speed: 380 km/h (205 knots, 236 mph)<br />
Cruise speed: 300 km/h (162 knots, 186 mph)<br />
Range: 1,200 km (648 nmi, 745 km)<br />
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,240 ft)<br />
Rate of climb: 5.0 m/s (985 ft/min)Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-35140187026095886432013-03-21T20:47:00.001-04:002015-04-02T16:01:12.400-04:00Smoke Me A Kipper and I'll Be Back For Breakfast<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Smoke Me A Kipper and I'll Be Back For Breakfast</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Our intrepid pilot waves a brave goodbye as he flies off in his ancient biplane into the great blue yonder.........</span><br />
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<iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627866.238255;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463918;pid=64181;usg=AFHzDLsbVc66v9Td-FyPvqj76aoSXeI5yg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.abt.com%252Fproduct%252F64181%252FNikon-25488.html;pubid=625910;price=%241846.94;title=Nikon+D600+Black+24.3+Megapixels+Digital+SLR+Camera+Body+-+25488;merc=Abt+Electronics+%26+Appliances;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent.abt.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2Fl_D600FXBODY.jpg;width=170;height=135" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe>. </div>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-91112554779179606652013-03-21T20:44:00.000-04:002013-03-21T21:01:06.730-04:00Up Your's Baby<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Mustangs scramble as the enemy guns get closer to the base. GI Charlie hastily calls HQ for backup on the field telephone.........</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Another bit of Photoshop tomfoolery based on several images I took at the Shoreham Airshow in the UK. </span></div>
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-6932282795171877572013-03-07T19:30:00.002-05:002013-03-07T20:02:58.014-05:00Messerschmitt Bf 108<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKTfbrbm7mk/UTgWrN_FwlI/AAAAAAAAGK8/Hzm4twDHxc0/s1600/ME109TakeoffUnderCloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKTfbrbm7mk/UTgWrN_FwlI/AAAAAAAAGK8/Hzm4twDHxc0/s1600/ME109TakeoffUnderCloud.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ME 108 - <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Chris Lord</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun was a German single-engine sports and touring aircraft developed by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aircraft Works). The Bf 108 was of all-metal construction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Originally designated the M 37, the aircraft was designed as a four-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the 4th Challenge de Tourisme Internationale (1934). The M 37 prototype flew first in spring 1934 powered by a 250 PS (247 hp, 184 kW) Hirth HM 8U inverted-V engine, which drove a three-blade propeller. Although it was outperformed by several other aircraft in the competition, the M 37's overall performance marked it as a popular choice for record flights. Particular among these traits was its extremely low fuel consumption rate, good handling, and superb takeoff and landing characteristics. One of the first major changes made to the production variants was to adapt the fuselage for a four-seat configuration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bf 108A first flew in 1934, followed by the Bf 108B in 1935. The Bf 108B used the Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. The nickname Taifun (German for "typhoon") was given to her own aircraft by Elly Beinhorn, a well known German pilot, and was generally adopted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon after the first production aircraft began to roll off the assembly line in Augsburg, several Bf 108s had set endurance records.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bf 108 was adopted into Luftwaffe service during World War II, where it was primarily used as a personnel transport and liaison aircraft. The aircraft involved in the Mechelen Incident was a Bf 108.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Production of the Bf 108 was transferred to occupied France during World War II and production continued after the war as the Nord 1000 Pingouin.</span><br />
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-79689084731838600752013-03-06T23:36:00.001-05:002013-03-07T19:31:34.229-05:00Delta Lady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOG48BNyFN94anDlRgzNdJW4N6LTRJ69sF3bgeHKcE0zORUYeVWS-xMyuSFB8m3yv9DdztSE8RL-P7bC2mb-ZzXp7wnlI_rBE_NLTEADjtM1SiAS9tWIX-Vn94LLSj9wsQOryFcWjraw/s1600/V-Bomber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOG48BNyFN94anDlRgzNdJW4N6LTRJ69sF3bgeHKcE0zORUYeVWS-xMyuSFB8m3yv9DdztSE8RL-P7bC2mb-ZzXp7wnlI_rBE_NLTEADjtM1SiAS9tWIX-Vn94LLSj9wsQOryFcWjraw/s1600/V-Bomber.jpg" /></a></div>
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Delta Lady</div>
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Retired by the RAF in 1984 the privately held and public funded “Delta Lady” XH558 is a show stopper, and with the famous howl, no-one can mistake her as she performs at airshows across the UK.</div>
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Here she arrives escorted by the Gnats Display Team</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TODxCty33xI/UTgWr6n9F5I/AAAAAAAAGLE/tKIIlTsBb_E/s1600/TheVulcan&TheGnats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TODxCty33xI/UTgWr6n9F5I/AAAAAAAAGLE/tKIIlTsBb_E/s1600/TheVulcan&TheGnats.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vulcan And The Gnats<br />
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<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK50.8342086 -0.2715557999999873650.794097599999994 -0.35223679999998736 50.8743196 -0.19087479999998735tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-40585804577117480692012-10-28T16:10:00.000-04:002013-03-21T21:00:38.518-04:00Spitfire Base Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIGp8qKw8LySdTZSQm5rs4gpbKZi2wUoCgfSEtgZPJRQcyvhGlVmkzxCbXAq137JrI19NRuIVopnZGRwGvrLzV7l26pRVrRW5lZdkoa7fmqktfpWhypAUGYSGlzVFNtWmOdqtXRWtXGk/s1600/SpitfireLanding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIGp8qKw8LySdTZSQm5rs4gpbKZi2wUoCgfSEtgZPJRQcyvhGlVmkzxCbXAq137JrI19NRuIVopnZGRwGvrLzV7l26pRVrRW5lZdkoa7fmqktfpWhypAUGYSGlzVFNtWmOdqtXRWtXGk/s1600/SpitfireLanding.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the most famous of all Spitfires still flying today, MH434 was built in 1943 at Vickers, Castle Bromwich. This Spitfire is completely original, and has never been fully rebuilt. A delight to fly, the aircraft is beautifully responsive and extremely manoeuvrable.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqHU3PHBlza1ZBPUrH98WM449bYxME8wyXIrLps8_LWsbsB_M8u7qHBbLt549lJ-4R27DbJzLmVX0H5YfWQsARCg8Kng3Bt7PsONXeYESbPYpv47ubZlwuwN-nC02DpoFDbpMtohkGeI/s1600/TheCaptain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqHU3PHBlza1ZBPUrH98WM449bYxME8wyXIrLps8_LWsbsB_M8u7qHBbLt549lJ-4R27DbJzLmVX0H5YfWQsARCg8Kng3Bt7PsONXeYESbPYpv47ubZlwuwN-nC02DpoFDbpMtohkGeI/s1600/TheCaptain.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qDr2vgcI3x86WlxwWnGphgPE1SB4r4xeROjHVoO2s0GVZajmKR_KRsyNKX51-tZgeJGBNBq8r12L3jBYA14KAcuCK0gki5DE-0RvvYKdcsy22elT6rX2WOw3BVStPdm1az0G44S-wik/s1600/SpitfireMaintainance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qDr2vgcI3x86WlxwWnGphgPE1SB4r4xeROjHVoO2s0GVZajmKR_KRsyNKX51-tZgeJGBNBq8r12L3jBYA14KAcuCK0gki5DE-0RvvYKdcsy22elT6rX2WOw3BVStPdm1az0G44S-wik/s1600/SpitfireMaintainance.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK50.834395 -0.27669650.814338 -0.316178 50.854452 -0.23721399999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-73728086559050012572012-10-06T16:12:00.000-04:002013-03-21T21:05:39.614-04:00The Last Vulcan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6ar-K6S2wY/UHCNbjGttyI/AAAAAAAADrY/-hm0YHAxxSc/s1600/TheLastVulcan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6ar-K6S2wY/UHCNbjGttyI/AAAAAAAADrY/-hm0YHAxxSc/s1600/TheLastVulcan.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Avro Vulcun</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Avro Vulcan is a jet-powered delta wing strategic bomber,
which was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1956
until 1984. Aircraft manufacturer A V Roe & Co (Avro) designed
the Vulcan
Although the aircraft's armament was primarily a nuclear weapon, in a conventional secondary role it was possible for the Vulcans to carry up to 21 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs.
Since the 1960s, the RAF's Vulcan squadrons had conducted routine training missions in practice for performing conventional bombing missions in addition to nuclear strike missions.
The only combat missions involving the Vulcan took place in 1982 during the Falklands War with Argentina. This was also the only time V-bombers took part in conventional warfare. The missions flown by the Vulcans became known as the Black Buck raids, which flew 3,889 mi (6,259 km) from Ascension Island to Stanley on the Falklands. On 1 May, the first mission was conducted by a single Vulcan that flew over Port Stanley and dropped its bombs on the airfield concentrating on the single runway, with one direct hit, making it unsuitable for fighter aircraft. The Vulcan's mission was quickly followed up by strikes against anti-air installations, flown by British Aerospace Sea Harriers from nearby Royal Navy carriers. In total, three missions were flown against the airfield, two further missions to launch missiles at radar installations; another two missions were cancelled. Victor tankers conducted the air-to-air refuelling; approximately 1.1 million gal (5 million L) of fuel were used in each mission. At the time, these missions held the record for the world's longest-distance raids. The Vulcan's ECM system was effective at jamming Argentine radars, British aircraft in the vicinity had a greatly reduced chance of coming under effective fire.
Five Vulcans were selected for the operation; their bomb bays were modified, the flight refuelling system that had long been out of use was reinstated, the electronics updated, and new wing pylons fitted to carry an ECM pod and Shrike anti-radar missiles at wing hardpoint locations originally installed for carrying Skybolt missiles. The engineering work began on 9 April.</span><br />
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<iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6631428.129511;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802464048;pid=23749142;usg=AFHzDLvGmESYr8gW8UBXNlfYN6pbJYJ9Hw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Ftechnology%252Fcomputers%252Ftablets%252Fproduct-prod4280017%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Technology-_-Computers-_-Tablets%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D23749142;pubid=625910;price=%24249.99;title=Google+Nexus+7+32GB+Tablet+NEXUS7ASUS-;merc=OfficeMax;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F23749142i_01.jpg;width=151;height=135" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe><br /></div>
Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK50.834395 -0.27669650.814338 -0.316178 50.854452 -0.23721399999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-43800934535149023012012-07-31T17:01:00.004-04:002015-04-02T15:37:00.801-04:00Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYqVFcdLsCtLoD0zInmLeKyG1nRWfeeB6QU-32z4cmRaUUtSSe20HlQuzLUrr6h15Z4mdhteiRZaclD6x7OrnKEj7QCft4if5w6ThjbqqLqa8O-j-13a176qiuJOfUa7BCUIUkPqWQTI/s1600/RedBaronsFokkerAtSunset-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYqVFcdLsCtLoD0zInmLeKyG1nRWfeeB6QU-32z4cmRaUUtSSe20HlQuzLUrr6h15Z4mdhteiRZaclD6x7OrnKEj7QCft4if5w6ThjbqqLqa8O-j-13a176qiuJOfUa7BCUIUkPqWQTI/s1600/RedBaronsFokkerAtSunset-2.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker - <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Chris Lord</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) during World War I. He is considered the top ace of that war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories, more than any other pilot. Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of Jasta 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger unit Jagdgeschwader 1 (better known as the "Flying Circus"). By 1918, he was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and was very well known by the other side. Richthofen was shot down and killed near Amiens on 21 April 1918. There has been considerable discussion and debate regarding aspects of his career, especially the circumstances of his death. He remains quite possibly the most widely-known fighter pilot of all time, and has been the subject of many books and films.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker (triplane) was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918. It became renowned as the aircraft in which Manfred von Richthofen gained his last 19 victories, and in which he was killed on 21 April 1918.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fokker Chasing An English Biplane</td></tr>
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-23883547218738381732012-07-22T23:32:00.001-04:002013-03-21T21:00:01.597-04:00Spitfire Attack<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0RGbfpWNkc/UAzDnIlGPTI/AAAAAAAADH4/4Ps-yEn5s00/s1600/SpitfireAttack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0RGbfpWNkc/UAzDnIlGPTI/AAAAAAAADH4/4Ps-yEn5s00/s1600/SpitfireAttack.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span small="" style="font-family: inherit;">Spitfire Attack - Photo Chris Lord</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The documentation to specification F.10/35, which was framed around the Spitfire, was headed "Requirements for Single-engine Day and Night Fighter" and stipulated that the aircraft be equipped with "(c) Night flying equipment". In line with these requirements Spitfire Is, IIs, VAs and VBs were fitted with a powerful, retractable landing-light in each wing. Dorsal and ventral identification lights could be operated in Morse code by the pilot using a small morse key in the cockpit. In an attempt to shield the pilot's eyes from the bright exhaust flames many Spitfires were also fitted with rectangular light-alloy "blinkers" secured to light-alloy brackets fixed to the sides of the fuel-tank housing: these could be easily removed.
Spitfires were first used as nightfighters during the summer of 1940: the most successful night interceptions took place on the night of 18/19 June 1940 when Flt. Lt. "Sailor" Malan of 74 Squadron shot down two Heinkel He 111s of Kampfgeschwader 4, while Flg. Off.s John Petre and George Ball of 19 Squadron each shot down one He 111 of KG 4. A week later, on the night of 26/27 June, Pilot Officers R. Smith and R. Marples of 616 Squadron shot down another He 111 of KG 4; Flt. Lt. H. MacDonald of 603 Squadron shot down an He 111 of KG 26 and another He 111 of KG 26 was shot down, possibly with the help of A.A guns by Flg. Off.s A. Johnstone of 602 Squadron and J. Haig of 603 Squadron. Although Spitfires continued to be used on night patrols, the Luftwaffe bombers learned to fly well above the altitudes at which they could be effectively picked up by searchlights and the Spitfires were never to achieve the same success.</span><br />
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-49185262250092288062012-07-22T23:21:00.001-04:002013-03-21T20:59:48.249-04:00Battle Of Britain<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeIb6esowRfDdt5tri989k3mUI9_ThTLAF62wGL9nWYhTSnL4SAX2vnSNkuoVqAzutZfh0-Gk4IIC0L_omorOW6SODbyBCHj-0D9xuIc1Wj4LdcgJjfHNDU7vi73sViR_eDB5bQSyi7k/s1600/WarInTheClouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeIb6esowRfDdt5tri989k3mUI9_ThTLAF62wGL9nWYhTSnL4SAX2vnSNkuoVqAzutZfh0-Gk4IIC0L_omorOW6SODbyBCHj-0D9xuIc1Wj4LdcgJjfHNDU7vi73sViR_eDB5bQSyi7k/s1600/WarInTheClouds.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Battle Of Britain <span style="font-size: xx-small;">- Photo Chris Lord</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the time, the Luftwaffe's main single-engine, single-seat fighter was the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Some advantages helped the Spitfires win dogfights, most notably manoeuvrability: the Spitfire had a higher rate of turn and a smaller turning circle than the Messerschmitt. There are several accounts of Bf 109 pilots being able to outturn Spitfires, mainly because inexperienced pilots did not turn as tightly as was possible through fear of getting into a high-speed stall. Overall, the aircraft were closely matched in performance and the outcome of combat was largely decided by tactics, position and the skill of the opposing pilots.
One major advantage enjoyed by the German Jagdgeschwadern was the use of better tactics. In the late 1930s Fighter Command were not expecting to be facing single-engine fighters over Britain, only bombers. With this in mind a series of "Fighting Area Tactics" were formulated, involving manoeuvres designed to concentrate a squadron's firepower to bring down bombers: with no apparent prospect of escorting fighters to worry about, RAF fighter pilots flew in tight, vee-shaped sections of three. The pilots were forced to concentrate on watching each other, rather than being free to keep a lookout for enemy aircraft. "Fighting Area Tactics" also stipulated that RAF fighter pilots were to open fire at long-range, usually 300 to 400 yards (274 to 365 m), and then break off without closing in. The usual practice was to bore-sight their guns on the ground to create a shotgun pattern at this distance.
Luftwaffe fighter pilots, flying combat formations perfected in Spanish Civil War, and utilizing proved principles of the First World War, entered the Second using the basic unit of a pair (Rotte) of widely spaced fighters. They were separated by about two hundred yards. The leader was followed to starboard and to the rear by his wingman, who was trained to stay with his leader at all times. While the leader was free to search for enemy aircraft, and could cover his wingman's blind spots, his wingman was able to concentrate on searching the airspace in the leader's blind spots, behind and below. Two of these sections were usually teamed up into a flight (Schwarm), where all of the pilots could watch what was happening around them. Because the four 109s were spread out four-abreast the Schwarm was hard to spot, unlike the RAF vee formation, and all of the 109s were able to attack and defend, or retreat in pairs, whereas the RAF formations were often split up into individual aircraft which were then extremely vulnerable. The loose Schwarm, because of the reduced risk of collision between aircraft, were also able to climb faster and higher than the tightly grouped RAF fighters, which is one of the reasons why RAF formations often found themselves being "bounced" from above. When the Luftwaffe fighter units flew as a squadron (Staffel) the three Schwarme were staggered in height and wove back and forth as a means of mutual search and protection.
With the Germans able to base their 109s in the Pas de Calais, close to the English Channel the "Fighting Area Tactics" became obsolete. Many of the RAF fighter squadrons which had not been engaged in combat over Dunkirk were slow to adapt to the fact that they would be encountering the potent German fighter over Britain. Some RAF units adopted "weavers", a single aircraft which flew a pattern behind the main squadron, which still flew in vees. The weavers were usually the first to be picked off in a "bounce" by the German fighters: more often than not the rest of the squadron did not even know they were under attack. RAF squadrons that did not learn from the Luftwaffe and adopt similar tactics suffered heavy casualties during the Battle. Leaders like "Sailor" Malan were instrumental in devising better tactics for the RAF fighters. It is no coincidence that some of the most successful RAF pilots were the Polish pilots who had been trained pre-war by their air force to fly in loose formations and open fire from close-range.
The biggest disadvantage faced by Bf 109 pilots was that, without the benefit of long-range drop tanks (which were introduced in very limited numbers in the late stages of the Battle), the 109s had an endurance of just over an hour. Once over Britain the 109 pilots had to keep an eye on a red "low fuel" light on the instrument panel: once this was illuminated they were forced to turn back and head for France. With the prospect of two long over-water flights, and knowing that their range was substantially reduced when escorting bombers or in the event of combat, the Jagdflieger coined the term Kanalkrankheit or "Channel sickness".</span>Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4053166263812060862.post-4233349791539790692012-07-08T13:18:00.000-04:002013-03-21T21:02:42.828-04:00Catalina Flying Boat<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pt_X-PM3w0/T_m9l_SsTrI/AAAAAAAAC94/hXZEdi_I-94/s1600/CatalinaDreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pt_X-PM3w0/T_m9l_SsTrI/AAAAAAAAC94/hXZEdi_I-94/s1600/CatalinaDreams.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Catalina Flying Boat </b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo Chris Lord</span></td></tr>
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A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections (called sponsons) from the fuselage. Flying boats were some of the largest aircraft of the first half of the 20th century, superseded in size only by bombers developed during World War II. Their advantage lay in using water instead of expensive land-based runways, making them the basis for international airlines in the interwar period. They were also commonly used for maritime patrol and air-sea rescue.
Following World War II, their use gradually tailed off, partially because of the investments in airports during the war. In the 21st century, flying boats maintain a few niche uses, such as for dropping water on forest fires, air transport around archipelagos, and access to undeveloped or roadless areas. Many modern seaplane variants, whether float or flying boat types are convertible amphibian aircraft where either landing gear or flotation modes may be used to land and take off.<br />
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Chris Lordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293680892195659350noreply@blogger.com0